About a year ago, artist and ArtRebels store owner Stine Hvid took time off from her studies at The Danish Design School to start her own company – Stine Hvid Illustrations. She wanted to try something new and take a break from the tiresome life of studying. It paid off. Within months Stine had more than a few jobs under her belt and has since been steadily climbing the ranks of professional illustration. For her latest gig she was commissioned to do a mural on a huge wall at Ofelia Beach – an urban park-like area in Copenhagen managed by the Royal Danish Theatre. ArtRebels was on scene to document it and chat about life as a professional illustrator.
Stine’s story begins with ArtRebels. Her first major job was an illustration at Trailerpark Festival in 2011 commissioned by our very own Carla Cammilla Hjort. This job holds great significance for Stine as it was her first wall illustration, and it caught the eye of the people behind Streetheart – a well-known website dedicated to street-art – who helped Stine get her name out there.
Through Streetheart, she landed her next job. Rasmus Schack – project coordinator at Streetmekka and an accomplished DJ – spotted Stine painting at Trailerpark while he was peering out of his window. He quickly established contact and eventually ended up being the catapult that sent Stine to Sweden. She was chosen as the Danish representative for Sketch or Die – a sketch marathon where six illustrators and several special guests were brought together to draw continuously for 48 hours. Their work was streamed online without interruption, the audience deciding what the artists should draw by submitting their wishes through Facebook, Twitter, or on the project’s website.
Although she hasn’t landed work through a window since, she continues to be discovered by clients in unexpected ways. Many of her jobs come through people who see her painting on location, or from participating in events like Sketch or Die. The network she has acquired through ArtRebels and other creative platforms has also helped her land new projects.
When she’s not painting on canvas and walls, she works as a freelance illustrator doing visuals, animation and magazine art work for different companies. In her own words, these provide her with both a steady income and challenge her as an artist since she must meet the wishes of her clients.
Her work, which is often centered on animals and cityscapes, seems aggressive at times. However, there are also mellow elements in her works, drawing only in black and white. Her employment at Ophelia Beach, where a brightly coloured logo was required, might have changed her mind on the monochrome though. She smiles as she contemplates a new style, but dismisses the idea for now. She is simply too busy to experiment with something new. But it’s good to be busy in this day and age and Stine looks very happy with where she is in life.
Follow the creation of Stine’s work at Ophelia Beach below. The whole piece took about four days to create.
Check out more of Stine’s work and visit her store here
